Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Beitar Jerusalem and Egypt’s President Morsi: two vignettes of racism

Racism raised its ugly head twice in the Middle East in
recent weeks: Anti-Muslim, anti-Arab supporters of right wing Israeli soccer
club Beitar Jerusalem rejected the hiring of two Chechen Muslim players while
Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi struggled to play down anti-Semitic remarks
he made two years ago.

The two incidents reflect the region’s battle to come to
grips with the fact that it is populated by a myriad of ethnic, national,
religious and sectarian groups. Widespread racism coupled with assertions of at
times exclusionary rights and an unwillingness to recognize and honor others’
national and minority rights has become all the more glaring amid a regional
push for greater freedom in a swath of land stretching from the Atlantic coast
of Africa to the Gulf.

While Christians view with suspicion and fear the rise of
Islamist forces in post-revolt Arab nations and nervous anticipation change in
nations that have yet to be hit by the wave of protests, efforts in Mali to
achieve greater rights for the Tuaregs have been overtaken by jihadist forces
that prompted a French military effort to regain control of the northern part
of the country.

Christians in war-torn Syria first backed embattled
President Bashar al-Assad and now frequently stand on the side lines, fearful
that the potential emergence of jihadists and Islamists as his successor may
mean that their days in the country are numbered.

In Israel, the rejection by
supporters of Beitar Jerusalem, the storied bad boy of Israeli soccer that is the
only club that systematically refuses to hire Palestinian players although they
rank among Israel’s top performers, responded furiously to Beitar owner and billionaire
of Russian origin Arcadi Gaydamak’s hiring of two Muslim players from Chechen
team Terek Grozny. Mr. Gaydamak auspiciously made his announcement on
International Holocaust Remembrance Day and only days after he lost an appeal
against his conviction in France on charges of corruption.

Their response constitutes a
reflection of prejudice towards Muslims in Israel despite the fact the fans’
response sparked sharp criticism and that the Israeli Football Association
(IFA) is the only soccer body in the region that has launched an anti-racism
campaign.

“If we accept that racism is still
alive and well outside the arena, then sports would have to exist in a
hermetically sealed, airtight environment in order to remain uninfected.
Impossible. If we accept that, yes, race and racism are still live issues in
sports, then we need to realize how these issues are debated and discussed
therein has a profound effect on how they are discussed and understood in our
broader culture,” says US sports journalist in a newly published book, ‘Game
Over, How Politics has Turned the World Upside Down.’

In an interview with Ynet, Mr
Gaydamak said that “as far as I'm concerned, there is no difference between a
Jewish player and a Muslim player. We must look at things professionally, we
must treat them nicely and fairly. There have always been good relations
between the Muslims in Russia and the Caucasus and the Jews."

Mr. Gaydamak was further quoted in
the Israeli press as saying that his club’s poor performance and financial
troubles had made it possible to stand up against the racism of its fans. “This
is something that we’ve wanted to do at Beitar for many years, and it’s been
made possible now because of the team’s financial state and the need to
strengthen the squad. The aim is to put
an end to the racism that has been doing harm to Beitar over the years, and not
to give in to a handful of extremists,” he said.

Yet, even defenders of Mr.
Gaydamak’s move couched their arguments in questionable terms. "I don't
understand the fans who don't want to see a Muslim player in Beitar. There are
a billion Muslims in the world and we must learn how to live with them. There
is a difference between a European Muslim and an Arab Muslim, and the fans here
have a problem with Arabs living in the Middle East,” said Beitar coach Eli
Cohen.

Similarly, Beitar spokesman Assaf
Shaked drew a distinction between Muslims and Arabs. “We are against racism and
against violence and we pay a price for our fans. But we aren’t going to bring
an Arab player just to annoy the fans,” Mr. Shaked said.

In a strongly worded letter to IFA
chairman Avi Luzon, Israeli president Shimon Peres said: "I appeal,
through you, to all football fans to refrain from all expressions and
manifestations of racism in football stadiums and outside of them. Racism has struck the Jewish people harder
than any other nation in the world. The
authorities must prevent it before it starts. Today, sport is a universal
declaration against racism. It is unacceptable for the opposite to take place
in Israel.”

Beitar fans cursed Mr. Gaydamak
during their club’s match last Saturday against Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv and vowed
to prevent the Muslim players from playing. “This will happen over my dead
body. We won't accept it. Every second they're on the field we'll drive them
mad until they ask to leave," one fan said. “Beitar will remain pure
forever,” read a Beitar banner during the match. Nigerian defender Ibrahim
Nadala left Beitar several year ago after being verbally harassed by fans.

Beitar has the worst disciplinary record in Israel’s Premier
League. Since 2005 it has faced more than 20 hearings and has received various
punishments, including point deductions, fines and matches behind closed doors
because of its fans’ racist behavior.

Beitar fans last year stormed a Jerusalem mall and beat up
Palestinian shoppers and workers. They subsequently attacked a Jewish woman
musician on a Jerusalem street because she denounced their politics.

Beitar’s matches often resemble a Middle Eastern
battlefield. It’s mostly Sephardic fans of Middle Eastern and North African
origin, revel in their status as the bad boys of Israeli soccer. Their dislike
of Ashkenazi Jews of East European extraction rivals their disdain for
Palestinians.

Supported by Israeli right wing leaders such as Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Beitar traces its roots to a revanchist Zionist
youth movement. Its founding players actively resisted the pre-state British
mandate authorities.

Beitar fans shocked Israelis when they refused to observe a
moment of silence for assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who initiated
the first peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

The row over Mr. Gaydamak’s acquisition of Muslim players
echoes post-election Israeli political discussions. Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid
(There is a Future) center left party did surprisingly well in this month’s
election, was quick to assure Israelis that he had no intention of cooperating
with Palestinian members of the Israeli parliament.

“I heard talk about a blocking majority- I want to take this
off the table. We will not do that with Haneen Zoabiz – it is not going to
happen,” Mr. Lapid, using a play on deputy Zoabi’s last name to use it as a
plural for Arabs.

Anti-Muslim and anti-Arab expressions come cheap in Israel.
So do anti-Semitic utterances in Egypt. Speaking earlier this month to visiting
US senators, President Morsi said anger over his description of Jews three
years ago "bloodsuckers" and "the descendants of apes and
pigs" had been overblown because of Jewish control of the American media.

Mr. Morsi’s remarks, Beitar’s defense of the hiring of
Muslims who are not Arabs, Christian concerns about their future in the Middle
East and North Africa and the failed Tuareg bid in Mali for greater rights
serve as stark reminders that the push for greater freedom in the region is
still in its initial phase and will only succeed if those clamoring for dignity
and rights recognize that this has to apply to all.

James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam
School of International Studies, co-director of the University of Wuerzburg’s
Institute for Fan Culture, and the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East
Soccer blog.

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About Me

James M DorseyWelcome to The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer by James M. Dorsey, a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Soccer in the Middle East and North Africa is played as much on as off the pitch. Stadiums are a symbol of the battle for political freedom; economic opportunity; ethnic, religious and national identity; and gender rights. Alongside the mosque, the stadium was until the Arab revolt erupted in late 2010 the only alternative public space for venting pent-up anger and frustration. It was the training ground in countries like Egypt and Tunisia where militant fans prepared for a day in which their organization and street battle experience would serve them in the showdown with autocratic rulers. Soccer has its own unique thrill – a high-stakes game of cat and mouse between militants and security forces and a struggle for a trophy grander than the FIFA World Cup: the future of a region. This blog explores the role of soccer at a time of transition from autocratic rule to a more open society. It also features James’s daily political comment on the region’s developments. Contact: incoherentblog@gmail.comView my complete profile